Volleyball downs Eastern Nazarene in home opener, 3-0

Sep 20, 2005

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University volleyball team
(4-5) opened its home schedule in style tonight, dispatching
visiting Eastern Nazarene College (5-5) in three straight
games.

Brandeis cruised to victory in the opening game, 30-17. The
Crusaders were much more active in the second game. The Judges led
early, 13-7, but ENC rallied to cut the margin to 20-19 before
Brandeis head coach Michelle Kim called a timeout. Brandeis won
eight of the next 11 points to take a 28-22 lead. The visitors
rallied, getting back to within 29-28 before rookie middle hitter
Becca Schwartz (Newcastle, N.H.) executed a successful tip to give
Brandeis the 30-28 win.

In game three, ENC started quickly, winning six of the first nine
points. The Judges rallied to take a 7-6 lead, however, and the
teams were tied at 10-10. Brandeis won on an 8-1 run to open an
18-11 advantage, the Crusaders answered again, climbing to within
18-16. Rookie setter Violette Ruggiero (Paradise Valley, Ariz.)
recorded service aces on four of the next five points to reopen a
seven-point lead, and the Judges pulled away for the 30-19 win,
with sophomore opposite Ashley Powers (Waltham, Mass.) recorded a
kill on the penultimate point and serving the match-winner.

Rookie outside hitter Lorraine Wingenbach (Buffalo, N.Y.) led all
players in the match with 11 kills, while sophomore middle hitter
Jenny Sandler (Stafford, Va.) had nine and Schwartz had eight.
Defensively, Ruggiero led Brandeis with 15 digs, a career-high,
while Wingenbach had 14 digs. Schwartz contributed six blocks
(three solo) and led the team with a .312 hitting percentage.